UPDATE: The College of the Canyons Cougars delivered a stunning performance, crushing Citrus College with a 6-2 victory during their annual Sophomore Night on November 3, 2023. This decisive win marks the Cougars’ highest goal tally of the season, enhancing their home record to an even 4-4-2 as they played on their home pitch for the last time this year.
Prior to the match, the coaching staff honored the team’s five sophomores—Diego Briseno, Steven Garcia, Juandiego Rodriguez, Jeffrey Contreras, and Leon Mikailian—for their contributions over the past two seasons. The ceremony set an emotional tone as fans celebrated the achievements of these athletes.
The action kicked off in the second half when Ivan Omana scored his first goal of the season just two minutes after the break, assisted by Andrew Sorto. This opened the scoring floodgates, quickly followed by another from Omana at the 48th minute, extending the lead to 2-0.
Citrus College responded with a goal from Kevin Cardenas in the 61st minute, narrowing the gap to 2-1. However, Cougars’ Jeffrey Contreras quickly restored the two-goal advantage with an unassisted strike in the 73rd minute. Cardenas answered back again for Citrus, making it 3-2 in the 75th minute.
The Cougars, showcasing their offensive prowess, continued to dominate. Juandiego Rodriguez scored twice within just minutes—first in the 74th minute with an assist from Justin Assadi, and later in the 87th minute via a setup from Mikailian. Rodriguez’s impressive performance brought his season total to three goals.
In a final flourish, Leon Mikailian capped the night with a goal in the 90th minute, sealing the 6-2 triumph for the Cougars. COC goalkeeper Jonathan Mazon made two saves, while David Zendejas, who played the second half, secured the win with further defensive efforts.
The Cougars unleashed a season-high 26 shots, with 17 on target, and earned nine corners throughout the match. Citrus goaltender AJ Baragan faced intense pressure, recording nine saves despite the defeat.
As the Cougars celebrate this victory, they look ahead to their final match of the season against Santa Monica College on November 8, 2023. Fans eagerly anticipate whether the team can maintain their momentum and deliver another strong performance.
